Idle Red Hands Podcast is a weekly podcast from Japan about games and gamers. We focus mostly on role-playing games, but dabble and tangent into board games, movies, comics, living in Japan and making fun of each other. The latter being most frequent.

The three hosts, Chris, Lyal and Wayne, all live in Kansai, Japan, meeting weekly to game, gab and record the show.

We spent 2011 painstakingly researching the cultures and wars that shaped the knight and samurai in order to give you an hour of solid entertainment. It would take us longer to list all of the topics we cover in the episode than the actual running time. (I’m not sure how that’s mathematically possible, but it’s true.) We even manage to squeeze in some Roman history, if Spartacus:... [click here for more]

In this episode, we seize this rare opportunity to be topical and talk about the biggest news in gaming since the announcement of Dungeons and Dragons 4e: the announcement of, uh, Dungeons and Dragons 5e. We give our 5e wish list and, oddly enough for three guys that have yet to figure out to how to monetize their podcast, give our thoughts on what Wizards of the Coast’s business... [click here for more]

This. Is. Kansai!
In this episode, we debut the first in our Warriors series. This series will take a warrior type from history and discuss key elements that you can use to make any character in any game setting a little more alive. First up, Hoplites. Are you ready to make your character worthy to stand with swift-footed Achilles and the cunning Odysseus? ... [click here for more]

“The gods give two sorrows for every blessing.” -Achilles
Here’s your blessing. Apologies for the future sorrows. In this latest installment of the Pantheon Pandemonium, we discuss the Greek gods and how to use themes from Greek mythology in your game. We also discuss the worst birthday gift you could possibly give your husband or wife. Hint: It’s worse than giving him or... [click here for more]

Is Savage Worlds better than Marvel Heroic Roleplaying: Basic Game?
[Three sentences before.] In this episode, we discuss narrative techniques from movies and novels that you can use to make your games more fun. We look at in media res, flashbacks, flash forwards, flash sideways, epistolary novels, and reverse chronology. We also offer advice for new gamemasters, including which games are... [click here for more]

The only thing too big to fail is a dragon, and if we had dragon bankers, we bet people wouldn’t be so keen to Occupy Wall Street. You want to pass on this episode? Passing’s for quarterbacks, and I don’t see a number on your back. So, listen up and join the 1%.Also, a review of Descent: Journeys in the Dark. ... [click here for more]

“A man can carry no better load than too much good sense, and no worse one than yo’ mama.” – Viking proverb (kind of) Straight outta Oslo, crazy Viking warrior named Brand, From the podcast called Erik Red Hands. Before anthrax, there’s my scramasax, Swing the iron and bodies get axed. In the second in our Warriors series, we bring the fury of the Norsemen to any... [click here for more]

“Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war!” - William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar We don’t let slip dogs, however. We let slip men, manly men, men’s men. Roman men whose virtus strained against the chains of disciplina. Men who could march all day and then spend three hours setting up camp, until their short, sweaty tunics clung to their... [click here for more]

“No, we’re okay, now that we’re not murdered or anything.” - Joy Ride In this episode, we debut another series: movie genres. To kick it off, we discuss thrillers and what thrilling tricks we can use in our games to make them more, yup, thrilling. Lyal talks about submarine movies. Wayne talks about submarine movies. No, wait, that was Lyal talking over Wayne. Chris... [click here for more]

“Not to recommend Canadian hip hop; that is the Law. Are we not Men?” “Not to talk about dolphin sex; that is the Law. Are we not Men?” “Not to tear up during an episode; that is the Law. Are we not Men?” Apparently not, because we break every law. In this episode, we discuss some classic “animal” novels and how to play animals in games. ... [click here for more]

In the first of two parts, we discuss running games set before and during an apocalypse. In this episode, it’s Wayne’s turn to read out the difficult words. Unlike Lyal’s struggles with Icelandic, though, Wayne struggles with English words. Fyndið! In part 2, we’ll look at playing in a post-apocalyptic setting and the role zombies really play in a zombocalypse.... [click here for more]

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” - Winston Churchill Was Churchill talking about World War Two or a game of Axis and Allies? With an apocalypse, the end is not really the end either. In fact, it’s where the fun really begins, if radiation sickness, starvation and sterility could be... [click here for more]

In this episode, we discuss sexism and gender bias. To tackle a subject of such delicacy, we use Lego, as you would. We also discuss whether a gaming company can handle tentacle rape in a classy and tasteful way, especially when they don’t even try to. Please excuse the unfortunate episode numbering. It was completely unintentional. ... [click here for more]

“Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose!” - Dillon Panthers’ motto It’s Sunday night, folks, and the Idle Red Hands are without one of their star players, Chris “Flesh Wall” Idle. They’ve faced this situation before, but they are also looking at a strict no spoiler policy with this episode. It’s going to be tough talking about one of the... [click here for more]

“O la vittoria, o tutti accoppati.” - Arditi motto “We either win, or we all die, eh?” - Canadian version (Often used by the Olympic hockey team) In this installment of Warriors, we look at the original stormtroopers, the German Stosstruppen of World War I. But that’s not all! Download now and we’ll throw in the Italian Arditi. Wait!... [click here for more]

A lion, crocodile and hippopotamus walks into a bar. Oh, did I mention that this is just one demon? In this addition to Pantheon Pandemonium, we look at the Egyptians. As you would expect, we don’t talk about pyramids and mummies barely get a mention. Instead, we discuss ma’at, ka, ba, the Book of the Dead, some hippopotamus-lion-crocodile demon, and gay marriage.... [click here for more]

With male strippers, Vancian magic and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, this episode has something for everyone. It’s also the debut of our Magic series, which will examine real world examples of “magical” organizations and magic. Plus: Another entry in our D&D Next Diary (yes, magic) ... [click here for more]

The month of series debuts continues with Locales, a look at how to use different settings in your games. In this episode, we also look at ships, from submarines to starships (not the band, although Lyal does talk about the band), with the added bonus of how to use them as antagonists and protagonists. Also, Chris talks about the virtues of booth babes, Wayne talks about the benefits of emphasizing... [click here for more]

“In the criminal Idle Red Hands system, Rogues will be separated into two separate yet equally important groups: the crimes and the people who commit them. These are their stories.” The month of debuts gets another debut! This time, it’s Rogues, a look at criminals and the crimes they commit. We look at the proud noble tradition of deal dealers, gunrunners and pimps (and... [click here for more]

Let’s look 100 years into the future to see what 2012 will bring! A pneumatic tube messaging craze will sweep the country! Science will find the cure for racism: all babies born in 2012 will be white! Automatons will do all domestic chores! Women will stay in the kitchen for the fun of it! Man will teach dogs and cats to talk! Will learn that they never really had much to say! The Idle Red... [click here for more]

We’re not bad; we’re just recorded that way. In this installment of Creature Features, we continue to redefine what a “creature” is. We look at the mysterious, sexy and dangerous femme fatale and the lesser known homme letal (probably because we coined it). ... [click here for more]

RPG Rookies is a series for new GMs and players or for more experienced GMs and players who like to complain about “obvious advice”. In First Step, we discuss the questions GMs and players need to ask themselves before playing a game, including which games will help you pull. Kidding. None of them will. We also offer some advice for those intimidated by 400-page rulebooks. ... [click here for more]

This second installment of Magic is about divination and fortune-telling, but you probably already knew that. We also envision an introduction on using music to help prepare for games. ... [click here for more]

“More choices, more problems.” - game designer In this episode, we look at whether it’s best to play a jack-of-all-trades or a master of one. We also compare how to build generalists in different systems: level, point buy, and life path. ... [click here for more]

“Forever young, I want to be forever young. Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?” - “Forever Young”, Alphaville Assail your opponent from behind, only fire at close range, and always, always keep the sun behind you. In this installment of Warriors, we talk about l’as, the star-turn, der uberkanonen, the flying ace. ... [click here for more]

We kick off our second annual Month of Horror with a look at ghosts. We examine some common themes and discuss how to use them as antagonists and protagonists. We also discover that any reality TV show can be made better by adding ghosts. Lyal attempts some scary breathing this episode (I guess that’s what he was doing). We’ll get him to mute the microphone next time. While Lyal’s... [click here for more]

“Cursed be those who disturb the rest of the Idle Red Hands. They that shall break the seal of this podcast shall meet death by a disease that no doctor can diagnose. What? You’ve invented blood tests and MRIs? Never mind.” - Updated Curse of the Idle Red Hands This is the episode we almost lost. Cursed? Or cursed that we recovered it? You be the judge. This episode has... [click here for more]

This is what happened. We recorded an episode of Literature Lessons about the master of modern horror: Stephen King. We discussed themes common to many of his books and how to incorporate them into your games. Wayne bought up D&D Next (again), Lyal created a possible Cujo sequel, and Chris talked about that classic Stephen King character Achilles. ... [click here for more]

In our last installment of 2012's Month of Horror, which we missed by six days, we discuss horror movies. Joining us for the discussion is horror movie aficionado (and massive movie spoiler) Josh. For those hoping to have the first 90 minutes of the 95-minute The Cabin in the Woods explained to them, I'm afraid we cut it out. I guess you'll have to learn the plot the old-fashioned way: watch... [click here for more]

“In the roar of an engine, he lost everything. And became a shell of a man, a burnt out, desolate man, a man haunted by the demons of his past, a man who wandered out into the wasteland.” - The Road Warrior The selfish rogues, the emotional voids, the cold-blooded killers. These are the antiheroes of literature, TV and the movies. We’ve all played these characters at some... [click here for more]

Having successfully recovered from The Towel Incident last week, we return to discuss two “Powered by the Apocalypse” games: Monsterhearts and Dungeon World. What does a high school monster love story game have in common with a throwback to old school D&D? Studded leather. After listening to the episode, Lyal felt that Chris and Wayne didn't really explain how the... [click here for more]

In this installment of Creature Features, we get in the Christmas spirit (kind of) and talk about fairies, except for elves (okay, not at all). We discuss different elements you can use in your game, which apparently includes David Bowie’s bulging crotch (all that Wayne remembered from Labyrinth). We also finally settle the question of which was the best superhero movie... [click here for more]

Rejected lines from The Empire Strikes Back and proof that GMs really need to think about what they want to accomplish with their scenes: “Luke, when a man and woman love each other, they hug very tightly…” “If you thought the trash compactor was a tight squeeze, you should’ve seen your mother…” “Luke! Meeza Jar Jar... [click here for more]

Jupiter’s middle leg! Has it been C episodes already? Gratitude for listening. At times, words fell from our mouths as crap from ass. However, we pray we offered some manner of good advice on other occasions. We plan to continue as long as desire wills our tongues. In episode C, we offer another installment of Warriors. Here we discuss Gladiators, the brotherhood of the stadium. ... [click here for more]

In this twist on our Locales series, we take a real world city and explore what elements it would offer games set there. We start with one near(ish) to our hearts: Tokyo. Learn all about what it’s like to be a Japanese woman on a crowded Tokyo train! From three (mostly) white foreigners who live in Kansai! In Part 1, we cover the people, power and culture of one of the world’s most populous... [click here for more]

“When you’re young, Roppongi is where your dreams can happen, and when you’re old, it’s kind of like where your dreams go to die.” In Part 2, we take you on a tour of Tokyo. Get your freak on, your geek on, your chic on. It’s Tokyo, gaijin; anything can happen. ... [click here for more]